Underwieght dog, what to do?

[Fisty]

Back in May I adopted I Jack Russel cross called Pork, when we got him he was a mass of hair. After a good trim it was obvious he was underwieght, he wieghed 11 pounds and I could put one hand completely around his waist.

He has been to the vets and they say his health is fine and he just needs to fatten up. Here lies the problem. I am feeding him three times a day and he gets 2 walks a day of between 4 and 6 miles total. But he has only put on 1 pound in these three months. Surely by now he should have put on a fe pounds more? His waist is tiny and you can feel all his bones.

Does anyone know of any foods I can feed him to fatten him up or are some dogs just naturally skinny?

Cheers, Tom

ps this is him

https://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn82/mr_fisty/DSC00779.jpg
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[shortbutsweet]

I would seek the vets advice, the vet told you to fatten him up yet has not given you advice as to how. Ive just re read your post and maybe you are just not feeding him enough considering how much exersise you are giving him. He is a little dog and possibly doesnt need quite so much?

sorry thats not particularly helpful but what about googling your question? find out how much food a jack russel should have and how much exersise he should get.

[Tonka]

Personally if you're worming him regularly and he's eating well I wouldn't worry too much. He gets loads more exercise than the average pet dog and some dogs seem to have a nervous disposition that makes their metabolism faster. He may settle down in time as it's still all quite new for him. You could try an higher protein food aimed at puppies/working dogs but this often makes them quite hyper, so may not be desirable!

FWIW my Rottie is skinny for his breed, but he eats well and is ok in every other respect just has a lot of exercise and seems to burn it off quickly. If the Vet says he's fine in every other respect I wouldn't panic!

PS. He looks down right gorgeous, if you ask me!!
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[WishayKillie]

It will take a few months to get his weight up, it's not something that will happen overnight. How old is he? 4-5 miles is quite a long way. The Jack Russells will walk all day if they wanted too but if he is quite skinny I'd cut down on the walks until his muscle and fat have grown back with his weight going up.

I've got a 6 month old Newfoundland, called Norman, and he is slightly under weight at 6 stone!! So we are gonna start giving him some raw meat on the bone from the butchers to put some fat on him and build up his muscle. Also try a food with a high protein content about 21-25% but change his food over the space of a few weeks to let his tummy adjust to it. We feed ours on a dry food called Gusto, the breeder we got him from swears buy it, plus it's only $5 for 10kgs! Something like Royal Canin in $45 for 15kgs and is no better IMO.
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[Tonka]

[Dischord]

It's generally worms. Just get him on a course of tablets.

Our Whippet has a good run everyday and then for supper a couple of scrambled eggs with lots of milk.

And then just basic biscuit food/scraps during the day.
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[Fisty]

[WishayKillie]

[Banned]

Molly says more fat rind etc and less walks til theres more to burn off.

https://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/covdude/21012009.jpg


steve

[Tonka]

I've been giving my lads some new stuff I found. It's Prize Choice and frozen in 400g blocks and it's basically raw minced meat or fish. Tonight's was chicken and tripe for tea (cost 70p) and I mixed it with their complete biscuit. Might be worth trying him on some more meaty stuff to bulk him up a little if you're worried.

Sincere apologies for OT Newfie tarting (Norman is pretty damn gorgeous):

My old lad at 3 months....
https://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr344/Tonkatoo_2008/th_scan0002.jpg

.....at 7 months
https://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr344/Tonkatoo_2008/th_scan0003.jpg

......full size and divine!
https://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr344/Tonkatoo_2008/th_scan0004.jpg
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[Hazylogic]

pork pies and the like. give him one every hour

[WishayKillie]

[yuri2085]

To be honest looks like your doing everything right, only thing could be worrying is if he is throwing up?

Otherwise its just normal.
He dosnt look unhealthily skinny.

[t121anf]

https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/categories.asp?cid=199

[CaNsA]

cooked pasta mixed with veg and dog food works a treat for bulking dogs up

hth

[b-f-c]

[Clanger]

I just looked at the picture of your Jack Russell, and he does not look seriously underweight to me. You do know that they are lean dogs, very active and will wiggle into any rabbit hole going?

Have a word with Stinky, he'll be the best to give you advice.
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[stinkwheel]

He looks absolutely spot on condition-wise from your picture.

People in the UK are so used to seeing overweight dogs they think it's normal.

I get people in all the time worried because ignorant wankers have walked up to them in the street and accused them of starving their perfectly fit and healthy dog.

Don't get hung up on the actual weight, there is such a huge variation in dogs it's impossable to give an "ideal weight", look at body condition. When you run your hands down the sides of the chest, you ought to be able to just feel every rib. The dog should have a waist.

If you're still concerned he's too thin, it may be he's running off all the energy he can take in. For particularly athletic dogs, I sometimes recommend using one of the "junior" diets which have more calories in them.

As I say though, from the picture, he has a reasonable covering of fat over his ribs, I'd rather you had your dog slightly on the thin side than on the fat side of normal, it'll be healthier and live longer.
https://articles.mercola.com/ImageServer/Public/2005/october/10.13.fatpets.BCS_Chart_dogs.jpg
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[JonB]

We currently have an 18/19 week old German Shepherd and I thought that it too was underweight, but looking at that graph has shown that it is actually ideal weight.

Only problem we have got is that she keeps biting our arms and ankles. Other than she is a really clever and well behaved dog. I never used to like dogs, but i've fallen in love with the German Shepherd.
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[stinkwheel]

[Clanger]

People keep telling me I need to eat more...but it's crap, I've been this weight for many years - only recently since the general population have been getting larger, have I been deemed too skinny.
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[pickled]

I have a dog that just isnt food orientated? and its hard to get weight on her especially after she had pups, a friend gave me some advice

8oz of baby milk twice a day (this was for a 23kg dog), Milupa Aptamil is a good one as its easily absorbed

[Fisty]

Thank you all for your advice!
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Quietly and consistently taking the piss.
TL1000R | Hayabusa | ZXR400 | TL1000S | Bandit 400 V
Fatter and faster than Fret

[GhostRider]

Get the dog to take up smoking, and then get him to give up smoking. This usually results in weight gain since he will snack instead of reaching for the cancer stick.

HTH

GhostRider
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[Fnatic]

What breed of dog is this?

https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h99/WishayKillie/2788_1003851394500_1771324832_2977_.jpg